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Armored Motorcycle

While this is one of the coolest contraptions we’ve ever come across featured in a black and white photo, we aren’t entirely sure of its authenticity. Please, anyone with info on this armored two-wheeler or the military project responsible for its development, drop us a line in the comments. We’re as curious as you.

13 Responses to Armored Motorcycle

It would either have a very poor turning radius or simply be unsteerable- notice that there is no room in the armor around the front wheel for it to pivot. What good is the hatch behind the guy’s head, if the driver’s head is always in the way? A man his height anyway wouldn’t be able to lower it enough to get it inside the armor, and even if he could he’d be effectively blind then. Also, the little flap-hatch things on the side (2 or 3 below the crosses and 1 vertical near the rear) look more like they were image-wrapped on, rather than existing as actual 3-dimensional features. Practically, what would be the use of the thing? It doesn’t look like there’s any way for the driver to put a foot down or to get out at all, and if the thing ever fell over there’d be no righting it without using another vehicle.

The basic structure appears to be that of an A7V a German tank from late in the first world war, this being the case I would presume it is a fake, however I do realise a lot of other people have realised this, and am therefore setting myself up for an internet bashing, but at least i said something

Are you dummies serious? Armored vehicles are built to be BADASS. What’s badass about an armored motorcycle? If nobody has noticed this, wouldn’t it be a little difficult to use the weapons on this thing? Besides flopping over on its’ side from the recoil, who is driving while the gun is being used? Oh, it has to be parked? Did you see a pair of boots on the ground? Imagine a raging battlefield. Balls of fire from tank cannon. Grapeshot and shrapnel are ripping up the dirt. Bodies are piling up. There are screams of pain and terror but they can’t be heard through the raging gunfire and explosions. In the center of the battle are 50 armored motorcycles (a company of them) all lying on one side. The drivers are frantically waving their arms to get someone’s attention so passers by (not likely in a firefight) can stand them up to fire a second shot at real tanks. Sounds like a Monty Python skit doesn’t it?
If you still believe it’s real, you might notice that a.t.v. tires like the ones on this pic weren’t manufactured until a.t.v.’s were invented. Only a few short decades after this pic was supposed to have been taken.
What’s more humorous than this ‘shopped pic are the conversations posted under it. Don’t drink and derive.

Doesn’t necessarily mean that the photo is shopped, it looks like a fake prop from the war. Haven’t you guys heard of the infamous 23rd Special Troops AKA the Ghost Army? Inflatable and prop tanks, planes, people, etc were used extensively prior to D-day. Maybe this German dude likes playing with toys.

For those having difficulty determining if this is a real thing or not – please look at the side-mounted machine guns. Then look at the operator’s head. From this information, try to estimate the gun caliber. Then ask yourself what actual WWII weapon might have fired a bullet that size.
You’re welcome.

I can only find two instances of this picture on the Web, yours and the one that has a French caption that notes it’s resemblance to the Sturmpanzerwagen A7V the German WWI tank.

The photo has the right “age” look. Photo number “425/17 MZ Pz-R” looks real, photo-shopped on a vintage photo? Looks like it’s on a two wheeled ATV, the tire’s tread pattern is iffy for the apparent era and there doesn’t seem to be room to pivot the front tire for steering. When I enlarge it those lines of rivets and the hinged doors on the side look more like they are just painted on. Besides the crew access door at the rear copied from the A7V but is too small unless there is a crew of leprechauns. But, I too would like to know the rest of the story.

And who is Lola? The plastic modelers who have researched the A7V don’t list this name among those found on WWI era pictures.